Millions for research into how AI affects teachers

In December, a new national research school was launched with a focus on how generative AI affects teachers' working environments. The University of Gävle is one of three universities participating in the initiative. The research school has a total budget of SEK 42 million, of which SEK 12.5 million has been allocated to the University of Gävle.

"We are in the midst of a major change in schools and the teaching profession, where generative AI has rapidly changed both tasks, responsibilities, and assessment practices. Now we need new knowledge to understand the consequences," says Anneli Frelin, professor of didactics at the University of Gävle.

The research school, known as LÄRA-AI – The Teaching Profession's Working Environment in an AI-Transformed School, is a collaboration between the University of Gävle, Uppsala University, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. A total of nine doctoral students will be affiliated with the research school, three of whom will be at the University of Gävle.

Digitalization, ethics, and professional development

The research within LÄRA-AI is organized into three thematic areas:

1. The impact of generative AI on the content and organization of teaching
2. Responsibility, ethics, and professional assessments
3. Digital competence, collegial learning, and professional development

“It is a research school for teacher educators, which makes the link to our education particularly important. Doctoral students will conduct research, teach, and take doctoral courses together with colleagues from other universities,” says Anneli Frelin.

The research school also plans to organize summer schools, international guest researcher visits, and field studies at schools. Among other things, the doctoral students will shadow teachers and study learning environments, both physical and digital. The supervisors will be Anneli Frelin, Jan Grannäs, associate professor of didactics, and Niklas Humble, who works in computer science.

Work environment beyond the classroom walls

There is a particular focus on the changing work environment in an increasingly digital school. For example, what does it mean for the teacher's professional role when assessments must take into account whether a piece of work has been created with generative AI? How is responsibility affected when teaching takes place both on site and remotely?

"We want to broaden the view of the work environment to include more than just the physical space. AI is changing the relationships between people, places, and professions. These are issues that remain relevant, not least in teacher education," says Anneli Frelin.

The research project will run until 2030 and is funded with SEK 42 million, of which SEK 12.5 million from the Swedish Research Council will go to the University of Gävle.